It is no secret that the Washington Commanders are in the market for a new starting quarterback this offseason. They have essentially been on the look for a quarterback since Robert Griffin III’s career was derailed by injuries and their recent attempts to fill the void have not gone well.
Dwayne Haskins didn’t even make it through two seasons with the team after being selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Ryan Fitzpatrick was signed as a veteran stopgap the last offseason and didn’t make it through the first half of Week 1 before suffering what turned out to be a season-ending hip injury.
This offseason, Washington will be in the market once again. However, the possibility of the Commanders parting ways with Chase Young to land a quarterback was floated around. According to Ben Standig of The Athletic, they would consider trading anyone on the roster if it meant improving at quarterback.
In Young’s case, acquiring someone on the level of Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson was mentioned. Who else could the Commanders consider trading Young for? Here are three more quarterbacks Washington should target if they are serious about including Young in a trade.
This isn’t likely enough of a return at the quarterback position, but if the Commanders wanted to go for someone on a rookie deal, Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears makes a lot of sense. The Bears are under a new regime, so they could be open to moving Fields, who is entering his second season in the NFL.
Fields has immense upside as a dual-threat quarterback. He is extremely athletic and has the size to hold up based on the running that he does. It would be a slight risk taking a chance on Fields, but he would be an upgrade potential-wise.
With a good offensive line, a strong running game led by Antonio Gibson and a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver in place with Terry McLaurin, the pieces are there for Fields to grow and develop. That is a trio Washington fans could get excited about for years to come.
Sticking with the idea that the Commanders would be looking for someone on the level of Rodgers and Wilson, Deshaun Watson would fit the bill. Still only 26-years old, Watson has the long-term outlook that parting ways with a player of Chase Young’s caliber would make it easier to stomach.
Trading Young for a 33-year old Wilson or 38-year old Rodgers would be a win-now move, but Washington still has some work to do before they would be considered Super Bowl contenders. Watson has off-field issues to sort out before trade talks can commence, but if he is cleared to return to the field, he is a superstar worth pursuing.
Including Young in a deal for Watson should lessen the draft capital needed to execute a trade as well, providing Washington a chance to continue rounding out their roster around their new franchise quarterback.
1. Kyler Murray
There have been rumblings that Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals could be heading toward a divorce this offseason. If the Cardinals look to move Murray, the Commanders need to get in on the bidding.
Murray would be a perfect acquisition for Washington. He is 24-years old and entering the fourth season of his rookie deal. They would be getting quite a bargain contract-wise for two seasons as Murray has played at an MVP level for portions of his career.
This is the kind of long-term upside that the Commanders would be looking for in a quarterback to even consider trading Young for. Murray could solve their issues at the position for the next decade, making him a worthwhile target even if it means parting ways with someone of Young’s caliber.
